SHANGLA: The residents of Dedal Kamach have demanded of education department to fill vacant posts in the only government high school of the area where over 300 students have been enrolled.

They threatened stage sit-ins and hold protest against the authorities concerned if vacant posts of teachers were not filled.

They told journalists on Monday that students were facing problems in their studies after the transfer of subject specialists and other teachers from the school.

`It is the only government high school in Dedal Kamach, the most backward area of Shangla district.

More than 300 students are enrolled in the school but unfortunately most of its teachers have been transferred or promoted during the last two months,` said Ibadullah Khan, a social activist.

He said only a few local teachers were left in the school who taught Islamiat, Urdu and social studies.

Sher Ali Bacha, an elder, said the future of their children was at stake owing to shortage of teachers in the school.

He urged the authorities concerned to have mercy on the children of the poor and neglected area of the district and fill the posts of teachers in the school immediately.

The district education officer, Muzafar Ali Syed, when contacted, said that the issue of shortage of teachers could be resolved if government allocated new posts for the schools in far flung areas.

He said that they would hire local teachers because teachers of other villages were not willing to be posted in remote areas.

ACTION: Shangla Coalmine Workers Association on Monday demanded of the authorities to take legal against the mine managers and contractors, whose negligence caused the deaths of three workers in Ghaljoo area of Upper Orakzai the other day.

Abid Yar Khan, the president of the association, told journalists on Monday that the incident in Ghalijo was result of the negligence of the mine manager and contractor, who forced the labourer to enter the mine without taking safety measures.